Experts forecast a rapid growth in export for the city in the coming time, citing clear signs of recovery in the global market.

However, in the month, the capital city faced a one-month surge of 0.95 percent in inflation. Experts blamed the spike in prices on rising consumer demand ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday in February.

The municipal Statistics Office reported that price rises were seen in 10 out of the 11 categories to goods and services used to calculate the consumer price index, with food and services rising by 1.84 percent and garments and footwear by 1.47 percent.

Only the cost of transportation saw a decrease, falling 0.14 percent from December, 2012.

Hanoi ’s economy in 2013 is forecast to face difficulties and challenges more severe than that in 2012.

The city predicts a growth rate of 8-8.5 percent based on the analysis of the domestic and global situation.-VNA